Delaware Basin Conservation Act passes committee

December 21, 2011 —

WASHINGTON, DC — The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2011, federal legislation to help protect the Delaware River Basin, has passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. A companion bill is still in committee in the House of Representatives.

The Senate co-sponsors of the legislation include Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and Robert Casey of Pennsylvania. The House bill is sponsored by U.S. representative John Carney (D-DE), and its sponsors include Charles Dent, Michael Fitzpatrick, Jim Gerlach and Patrick Meehan, (R-PA) Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Maurice Hinchey (D-NY).

The act would implement a voluntary, coordinated approach to sustaining and enhancing the basin’s habitat, water quality and flooding controls. It would provide $5 million for each of the next five fiscal years, and would include a competitive grants component to provide support for local, on-the-ground projects by universities, state and local governments, community organizations and others. The grants could be used to support such things as wetlands restoration and protection, flood mitigation and waterfront revitalization.

What the heck? The US has a budget deficit of only $1.3 TRILLION or so, what's another $25 million? At least that's how I add it up if they want to "provide $5 million for each of the next five fiscal years". Especially when we stand to gain so much from important projects like restoring wetlands and such things that universitys do so well.
At least the House has enough leadership to kill a farce like this before it sees the light of day.

Take a look at "Gas at a Glance". Why not add a couple of pro gas stories from 12/30?

As far as federal aid to the DRB, why not? We are about to go where we have never gone before, to use Star Trek words, in relation to high volume, slick water, multi-stage, hydraulic fracturing, and drilling, into shale!

Don't you care about the DRB? Just because you live somewhere else, just because you own land in the DRB, and stand to make money from leasing and drilling/frac'ing, do you have to be callous? Can't the River Basin that supplies drinking water to more than 15 million people show caution?

As far as your post above, do universities "restore wetlands and such things"? Who pays universities to do this? Many of the legislators who support this bill are republican, and, in the House of Representatives. Will the "leadership" be able to "kill" this legislation? Even if it benefits the Delaware River Basin?

Why do you hate the Delaware River Basin? Where do you live?
Are you from another planet?

It's your story, tell it any way you like.
You seem to enjoy 'spinning' anything I say as comment against the Delaware River Valley, which is in no way true, but that is your forte'.

My objection is based on simple economics. Our national debt is over $15 trillion. The federal budget has a deficit over $1.3 trillion. We can not continue spending more than we have, it's that simple.

In reality this legislation is a 'feel good' bill intended to earn constituent support for politicians in the DRB area. If you bother to browse it's text you will see it's focus is more on the Delaware Bay than anything, which is not surprising since it's sponsors are Sen. Carper and Rep. Carney, both from DE. There are no specific projects mentioned and with only $5M/yr what will really be accomplished? It's simply more 'pork' in our already overstuffed budget.